The Bad Guy is the Shimano Corporation, which has been funneling millions of dollars to finance efforts to block ocean protection. Shimano and other fishing industry groups are actively working to derail conservation efforts across the nation, including California’s landmark ocean protection law, the Marine Life Protection Act(MLPA).

Hundreds of ocean experts will be in San Franciso next week for the 2010 California and the World Oceans Conference to talk about ways to manage the ocean more sustainably. Cyclists and conservationists are showing up voice their support for ocean protection and call on Shimano to stop trying to block the creation of “underwater parks” in California and elsewhere.

The show starts at 5:30, and concludes with a ride up Market Street at 7pm, followed by an after party at Triple Crown.”

“Join us for a bike rally to celebrate sustainability in cycling and the sea! The rally will begin on Thursday, September 9th at 5:30pm at Justin Herman Plaza in downtown San Francisco and will coincide with the 2010 California and the World Oceans Conference. There will be music, speakers, food, and community action.

At 7:00pm, we’ll “Put the Sea in Cycling” with a bike ride to Triple Crown (1760 Market Street) for an after-…party complete with food, beverages and music.

We are rallying to call attention to the fact that the Shimano Corporation—makers of the derailleurs, cranks and wheelsets that keep us riding—is financing efforts to derail ocean conservation in California and elsewhere. Many of us who ride bikes are also avid surfers, swimmers, and beach-goers, so we care deeply about the health of our treasured marine environment.

Why would Shimano fight ocean protection? Because in addition to making bike components, they also manufacture rods and reels for fishing. And while Shimanoclaims to be committed to conservation, healthy oceans, and environmental stewardship, the truth is that Shimano has pledged to oppose any efforts to create new marine protections that would impact their short-term bottom line. The irony of Shimano’s campaign is that protecting our oceans is good for business; the long-term health of our ocean ecosystems is good for everyone—wildlife, fishermen and the fishing industry.

Unfortunately, in addition to spending millions of dollars to oppose California’s new marine protected areas—underwater parks, proven to improve the health of ocean ecosystems—Shimano has funded efforts to fight ocean protections across the nation, in places like Oregon, Washington and the Gulf of Mexico.

So while our bike lanes and paths lead us to the ocean, our bike parts may be leading us away from protecting our precious coastal resources. We need to put the sea back in cycling. Help us tell Shimanoto stick with derailing bike chains, not ocean conservation
efforts.”